Principal/Sr. Principal RF Electronics Engineer

Northrop Grumman; Ohio; On-site; USD 104,000 - 194,000; Full time

Job summary

Northrop Grumman in Cincinnati, Ohio seeks a cleared Principal or Sr. Principal RF Electrical Engineer to help deliver advanced RF capabilities for government and intelligence customers.

You will design, analyze, and test RF systems, support cross‑functional teams, and contribute to mission‑critical programs. The role requires a Top Secret clearance, strong RF knowledge including antenna design and propagation, and the ability to develop technical documentation and presentations for senior

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering or other STEM discipline with 5 years of relevant experience or higher degrees with adjusted years.
• US Citizenship is required.
• An active U.S. Government Top Secret clearance is required.
• Experience with digital and RF circuit design and reading engineering drawings.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and maintain RF systems, antennas, and communication equipment.
• Perform RF analysis, simulations, and testing to validate designs.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate RF with other disciplines.

Skills

RF design basics

Engineering drawings

Technical reporting

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering

Master's degree

PhD

Tools

RF CAD tools

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes CLEARANCE TYPE: Top Secret TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time.

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Join Northrop Grumman – Cincinnati (aka Xetron), part of Mission Systems sector, focused on the development of new capabilities for our military and intelligence customers around the globe. Our Northrop Grumman Cincinnati, Ohio small business culture operates collaboratively within a larger corporation providing the benefits of both. This unique relationship offers employees the ability to know everyone at the site while working on technologies and products that are beyond state‑of‑the‑art. You and your team will wrestle with the next big problems in an atmosphere of collaboration and cooperation, sharing your expertise while learning from the expert next to you. Remember when you were excited about getting to work because of the challenge of the problem, the importance of the solution and the fun you had with your team? It's that kind of place! But don't take my word for it, see for yourself! See why we receive comments on our YouTube Videos like “This company is insanely advanced” and “Wow. This is mind blowing.” See some of our recent Awards and Recognition and read about some of the reasons to live in Cincinnati.

We are seeking a cleared or clearable Principal or Sr. Principal RF Electrical Engineers to join our Engineering Group onsite in Cincinnati, Ohio to help deliver advanced RF communications capabilities for U.S. government and intelligence customers. This critical role offers the opportunity to solve complex technical challenges, contribute to mission-focused programs, and make a meaningful impact on our nation’s security.

What you'll get to do:

The RF Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, testing, and maintaining RF systems, antennas, and communication equipment to support the government mission and operations. This role involves applying RF engineering principles to design and develop new systems, modify existing systems, and troubleshoot and resolve RF issues, while ensuring compliance with government regulations and industry standards. The RF Engineer will perform RF analysis, simulations, and testing to validate designs, and will collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate RF systems with other disciplines such as electrical, mechanical, and software engineering. Additionally, the RF Engineer will develop and maintain technical documentation, including design specifications, technical reports, and test plans, and will provide technical support and guidance to junior engineers and other team members. Proficiency in RF design tools, experience with RF systems and equipment, and a strong understanding of RF engineering principles, including antenna design, propagation modeling, and frequency planning, are essential for success in this role. This role can be filled at the Principal or Sr. Principal level.

Basic Qualifications for Principal (level 3):

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering or other STEM discipline with 5 years of relevant experience
• Master's Degree with 3 years’ experience
• PhD with 1 year experience
• US Citizenship is required
• An active U.S. Government Top Secret clearance is required
• Basic knowledge and experience of digital and RF circuit design
• Experience and knowledge using and reading engineering drawings
• Experience presenting engineering findings orally and in written technical reports and presentations

Basic Qualifications for Sr. Principal (level 4):

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering or other STEM discipline with 8 years of relevant experience
• Master's Degree with 6 years’ experience
• PhD with 3 year experience
• US Citizenship is required
• An active U.S. Government Top Secret clearance is required
• Basic knowledge and experience of digital and RF circuit design
• Experience and knowledge using and reading engineering drawings
• Experience presenting engineering findings orally and in written technical reports and presentations

Preferred Qualifications for both:

• Master's degree in RF Engineering or another STEM discipline from an accredited university
• Proven experience designing RF receivers and transmitters across L-, S-, C-, K-, Ka-, and V-bands, including V-band down conversion and S-band/V-band receiver architectures
• Expertise in power amplifier design for those frequency bands
• Strong background in filter definition and implementation
• Experience with RF hardware design, testing and analysis using computer aided design (CAD)
• Proficiency in RF link analysis and link budgets, including noise modeling and degradation effects
• Experience with high-data-rate systems, including APSK modulation and associated impairments
• Familiarity with space RF link standards and practices, including ITU and CCSDS
• Hands‑on experience interfacing with antennas and performing antenna characterization
• Proficiency with RF test equipment and related test methodologies
• Experience with RF printed wiring board (PWB/PCB) layout and microwave design best practices

Primary Level Salary Range:

$103,600.00 - $155,400.00

Secondary Level Salary Range:

$129,300.00 - $193,900.00

The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.

The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

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We are a pioneering company. With careers across all areas: air, cyber, land, sea and space – our 90,000 employees work as one to defend and define the future. Northrop Grumman careers and internships are as varied as your interests, with a lifetime of potential that will give you every opportunity to do your best work. Working together with people from many backgrounds, personal passions and disciplines, we share a drive to push the boundaries of science, technology and engineering to meet the ever evolving needs of our customers worldwide.